The RailStaff Awards 2024

Sam Stokes

Great Western Railway

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Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Carys Thomas

Said the following about Sam Stokes:

“Great Western Railway (GWR) is one of the biggest rail franchises in the UK, part of the First Group of companies, operating the Western network since 1996, rebranding ourselves as GWR in 2015. We employ over 6000 people across our network and we carry more than one and a half million customers over two million single journeys on 10,000 services every week. People are at the heart of our business and our ethos is that we are 'greater together'.

Sam noticed a young male alone at the end of a platform at a busy commuter station. He observed the male for some time and had a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Despite being highly busy at the time, he radioed through to his colleagues to arrange cover whilst he went over to check on the individual. Ensuring our services ran whilst also looking out for the welfare of our customers.

As Sam found cover and approached him, the individual had neared the edge of the platform. Sam informed control and arranged for a block on the line before going to speak with the individual, informing the staff around him of his intentions.

He spent some time with the young individual until he was clam enough to come and sit on the platform bench, whilst also subtly informing the British Transport Police. The police arrived and took the individual to a place of safety and Sam continued with his work.

Humble to his actions, he did not boast of what he had done. It was only two weeks later when the British Transport Police spoke to management that we had learnt of his incredible act.

The young male had lost a member of his family and was struggling to cope and so was contemplating suicide. The young male’s parents wanted to pass on their thanks to Sam for intervening when he did.

Sam is one of the station’s first aiders and will always be one of the first to answer to a call for help. His actions in general allow us to maintain as safe an environment as possible whilst also looking out for the welfare of our customers.“